23 U.S. Code § 129 - Toll roads, bridges, tunnels, and ferries

(1) Authorization for federal participation.— Subject to the provisions of this section, Federal participation shall be permitted on the same basis and in the same manner as construction of toll-free highways is permitted under this chapter in the—

(A)initial construction of a toll highway, bridge, or tunnel or approach to the highway, bridge, or tunnel;

(B)initial construction of 1 or more lanes or other improvements that increase capacity of a highway, bridge, or tunnel (other than a highway on the Interstate System) and conversion of that highway, bridge, or tunnel to a tolled facility, if the number of toll-free lanes, excluding auxiliary lanes, after the construction is not less than the number of toll-free lanes, excluding auxiliary lanes, before the construction;

(C)initial construction of 1 or more lanes or other improvements that increase the capacity of a highway, bridge, or tunnel on the Interstate System and conversion of that highway, bridge, or tunnel to a tolled facility, if the number of toll-free non-HOV lanes, excluding auxiliary lanes, after such construction is not less than the number of toll-free non-HOV lanes, excluding auxiliary lanes, before such construction;

(D)reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, rehabilitation, or replacement of a toll highway, bridge, or tunnel or approach to the highway, bridge, or tunnel;

(E)reconstruction or replacement of a toll-free bridge or tunnel and conversion of the bridge or tunnel to a toll facility;

(F)reconstruction of a toll-free Federal-aid highway (other than a highway on the Interstate System) and conversion of the highway to a toll facility;

(G)reconstruction, restoration, or rehabilitation of a highway on the Interstate System if the number of toll-free non-HOV lanes, excluding auxiliary lanes, after reconstruction, restoration, or rehabilitation is not less than the number of toll-free non-HOV lanes, excluding auxiliary lanes, before reconstruction, restoration, or rehabilitation;

(H)conversion of a high occupancy vehicle lane on a highway, bridge, or tunnel to a toll facility; and

(I)preliminary studies to determine the feasibility of a toll facility for which Federal participation is authorized under this paragraph.

(2) Ownership.— Each highway, bridge, tunnel, or approach to the highway, bridge, or tunnel constructed under this subsection shall—

(A)be publicly owned; or

(B)be privately owned if the public authority with jurisdiction over the highway, bridge, tunnel, or approach has entered into a contract with 1 or more private persons to design, finance, construct, and operate the facility and the public authority will be responsible for complying with all applicable requirements of this title with respect to the facility.

(3) Limitations on use of revenues.—

(A) In general.— A public authority with jurisdiction over a toll facility shall use all toll revenues received from operation of the toll facility only for—

(i)debt service with respect to the projects on or for which the tolls are authorized, including funding of reasonable reserves and debt service on refinancing;

(ii)a reasonable return on investment of any private person financing the project, as determined by the State or interstate compact of States concerned;

(iii)any costs necessary for the improvement and proper operation and maintenance of the toll facility, including reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation;

(iv)if the toll facility is subject to a public-private partnership agreement, payments that the party holding the right to toll revenues owes to the other party under the public-private partnership agreement; and

(v)if the public authority certifies annually that the tolled facility is being adequately maintained, any other purpose for which Federal funds may be obligated by a State under this title.

(B) Annual audit.—

(i) In general.— A public authority with jurisdiction over a toll facility shall conduct or have an independent auditor conduct an annual audit of toll facility records to verify adequate maintenance and compliance with subparagraph (A), and report the results of the audits to the Secretary.

(ii) Records.— On reasonable notice, the public authority shall make all records of the public authority pertaining to the toll facility available for audit by the Secretary.

(C) Noncompliance.— If the Secretary concludes that a public authority has not complied with the limitations on the use of revenues described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary may require the public authority to discontinue collecting tolls until an agreement with the Secretary is reached to achieve compliance with the limitation on the use of revenues described in subparagraph (A).

(4) Limitations on conversion of high occupancy vehicle facilities on interstate system.—

(A) In general.— A public authority with jurisdiction over a high occupancy vehicle facility on the Interstate System may undertake reconstruction, restoration, or rehabilitation under paragraph (1)(G) on the facility, and may levy tolls on vehicles, excluding high occupancy vehicles, using the reconstructed, restored, or rehabilitated facility, if the public authority—

(i)in the case of a high occupancy vehicle facility that affects a metropolitan area, submits to the Secretary a written assurance that the metropolitan planning organization designated under section
5203 [1] of title
49 for the area has been consulted concerning the placement and amount of tolls on the converted facility;

(ii)develops, manages, and maintains a system that will automatically collect the toll; and

(iii)establishes policies and procedures—

(I)to manage the demand to use the facility by varying the toll amount that is charged; and

(II)to enforce sanctions for violations of use of the facility.

(B) Exemption from tolls.— In levying tolls on a facility under subparagraph (A), a public authority may designate classes of vehicles that are exempt from the tolls or charge different toll rates for different classes of vehicles.

(5) Special rule for funding.—

(A) In general.— In the case of a toll facility under the jurisdiction of a public authority of a State (other than the State transportation department), on request of the State transportation department and subject to such terms and conditions as the department and public authority may agree, the Secretary, working through the State department of transportation, shall reimburse the public authority for the Federal share of the costs of construction of the project carried out on the toll facility under this subsection in the same manner and to the same extent as the department would be reimbursed if the project was being carried out by the department.

(B) Source.— The reimbursement of funds under this paragraph shall be from sums apportioned to the State under this chapter and available for obligations on projects on the Federal-aid system in the State on which the project is being carried out.

(6) Limitation on federal share.— The Federal share payable for a project described in paragraph (1) shall be a percentage determined by the State, but not to exceed 80 percent.

(7) Modifications.— If a public authority (including a State transportation department) with jurisdiction over a toll facility subject to an agreement under this section or section
119(e), as in effect on the day before the effective date of title I of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (105 Stat. 1915), requests modification of the agreement, the Secretary shall modify the agreement to allow the continuation of tolls in accordance with paragraph (3) without repayment of Federal funds.

(8) Loans.—

(A) In general.—

(i) Loans.— Using amounts made available under this title, a State may loan to a public or private entity constructing or proposing to construct under this section a toll facility or non-toll facility with a dedicated revenue source an amount equal to all or part of the Federal share of the cost of the project if the project has a revenue source specifically dedicated to the project.

(B) Compliance with federal laws.— As a condition of receiving a loan under this paragraph, the public or private entity that receives the loan shall ensure that the project will be carried out in accordance with this title and any other applicable Federal law, including any applicable provision of a Federal environmental law.

(C) Subordination of debt.— The amount of any loan received for a project under this paragraph may be subordinated to any other debt financing for the project.

(D) Obligation of funds loaned.— Funds loaned under this paragraph may only be obligated for projects under this paragraph.

(E) Repayment.— The repayment of a loan made under this paragraph shall commence not later than 5 years after date on which the facility that is the subject of the loan is open to traffic.

(F) Term of loan.— The term of a loan made under this paragraph shall not exceed 30 years from the date on which the loan funds are obligated.

(G) Interest.— A loan made under this paragraph shall bear interest at or below market interest rates, as determined by the State, to make the project that is the subject of the loan feasible.

(H) Reuse of funds.— Amounts repaid to a State from a loan made under this paragraph may be obligated—

(i)for any purpose for which the loan funds were available under this title; and

(ii)for the purchase of insurance or for use as a capital reserve for other forms of credit enhancement for project debt in order to improve credit market access or to lower interest rates for projects eligible for assistance under this title.

(I) Guidelines.— The Secretary shall establish procedures and guidelines for making loans under this paragraph.

(9) State law permitting tolling.— If a State does not have a highway, bridge, or tunnel toll facility as of the date of enactment of the MAP–21, before commencing any activity authorized under this section, the State shall have in effect a law that permits tolling on a highway, bridge, or tunnel.

(10) Definitions.— In this subsection, the following definitions apply:

(A) High occupancy vehicle; hov.— The term “high occupancy vehicle” or “HOV” means a vehicle with not fewer than 2 occupants.

(B) Initial construction.—

(i) In general.— The term “initial construction” means the construction of a highway, bridge, tunnel, or other facility at any time before it is open to traffic.

(ii) Exclusions.— The term “initial construction” does not include any improvement to a highway, bridge, tunnel, or other facility after it is open to traffic.

(C) Public authority.— The term “public authority” means a State, interstate compact of States, or public entity designated by a State.

(D) Toll facility.— The term “toll facility” means a toll highway, bridge, or tunnel or approach to the highway, bridge, or tunnel constructed under this subsection.

(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of section
301 of this title, the Secretary may permit Federal participation under this title in the construction of a project constituting an approach to a ferry, whether toll or free, the route of which is a public road and has not been designated as a route on the Interstate System. Such ferry may be either publicly or privately owned and operated, but the operating authority and the amount of fares charged for passage shall be under the control of a State agency or official, and all revenues derived from publicly owned or operated ferries shall be applied to payment of the cost of construction or acquisition thereof, including debt service, and to actual and necessary costs of operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement.

(c)Notwithstanding section
301 of this title, the Secretary may permit Federal participation under this title in the construction of ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities, whether toll or free, subject to the following conditions:

(1)It is not feasible to build a bridge, tunnel, combination thereof, or other normal highway structure in lieu of the use of such ferry.

(2)The operation of the ferry shall be on a route classified as a public road within the State and which has not been designated as a route on the Interstate System. Projects under this subsection may be eligible for both ferry boats carrying cars and passengers and ferry boats carrying passengers only.

(3)Such ferry boat or ferry terminal facility shall be publicly owned or operated or majority publicly owned if the Secretary determines with respect to a majority publicly owned ferry or ferry terminal facility that such ferry boat or ferry terminal facility provides substantial public benefits.

(4)The operating authority and the amount of fares charged for passage on such ferry shall be under the control of the State or other public entity, and all revenues derived therefrom shall be applied to actual and necessary costs of operation, maintenance, and [2] repair, debt service, negotiated management fees, and, in the case of a privately operated toll ferry, for a reasonable rate of return.

(5)Such ferry may be operated only within the State (including the islands which comprise the State of Hawaii and the islands which comprise any territory of the United States) or between adjoining States or between a point in a State and a point in the Dominion of Canada. Except with respect to operations between the islands which comprise the State of Hawaii, operations between the islands which comprise any territory of the United States, operations between a point in a State and a point in the Dominion of Canada, and operations between any two points in Alaska and between Alaska and Washington, including stops at appropriate points in the Dominion of Canada, no part of such ferry operation shall be in any foreign or international waters.

(6)No such ferry shall be sold, leased, or otherwise disposed of without the approval of the Secretary. The Federal share of any proceeds from such a disposition shall be credited to the unprogramed balance of Federal-aid highway funds of the same class last apportioned to such State. Any amount so credited shall be in addition to all other funds then apportioned to such State and available for expenditure in accordance with the provisions of this title.

For the effective date of title I of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, referred to in subsec. (a)(7), see section 1100 ofPub. L. 102–240, set out as an Effective Date of 1991 Amendment note under section
104 of this title.

The date of enactment of the MAP–21, referred to in subsec. (a)(9), is deemed to be Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a), (b) ofPub. L. 112–141, set out as Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment notes under section
101 of this title.

“(5) Limitation on federal share.—Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the Federal share payable for construction of a highway, bridge, tunnel, or approach thereto or conversion of a highway, bridge, or tunnel to a toll facility under this subsection shall be such percentage as the State determines but not to exceed 50 percent. The Federal share payable for construction of a new bridge, tunnel, or approach thereto or for reconstruction or replacement of a bridge, tunnel, or approach thereto shall be such percentage as the Secretary determines but not to exceed 80 percent. In the case of a toll facility subject to an agreement under section
119 or
129, the Federal share payable on any project for resurfacing, restoring, rehabilitating, or reconstructing such facility shall be 80 percent until the scheduled expiration of such agreement (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991).”

“(7) Loans.—A State may loan all or part of the Federal share of a toll project under this section to a public or private agency constructing a toll facility. Such loan may be made only after all Federal environmental requirements have been complied with and permits obtained. The amount loaned shall be subordinated to other debt financing for the facility except for loans made by the State or any other public agency to the agency constructing the facility. Funds loaned pursuant to this section may be obligated for projects eligible under this section. The repayment of any such loan shall commence not more than 5 years after the facility has opened to traffic. Any such loan shall bear interest at the average rate the State’s pooled investment fund earned in the 52 weeks preceding the start of repayment. The term of any such loan shall not exceed 30 years from the time the loan was obligated. Amounts repaid to a State from any loan made under this section may be obligated for any purpose for which the loaned funds were available. The Secretary shall establish procedures and guidelines for making such loans.”

Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 104–59, § 313(c), inserted before period at end of first sentence “or between a point in a State and a point in the Dominion of Canada” and in second sentence substituted “Hawaii,” for “Hawaii and” and inserted “, operations between a point in a State and a point in the Dominion of Canada,” after “Puerto Rico”.

1992—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–388, § 410(1), which directed the substitution of “classified as a public road” for “approved under section
103(b) or (b) of this title as a part of one of the Federal-aid systems”, was executed by making the substitution for “approved under section
103(b) or (c) of this title as a part of one of the Federal-aid systems” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 102–388, § 410(2), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “The operation of the ferry shall be on a route which has been approved under section
103(b) or (c) of this title as a part of one of the Federal-aid systems within the State and has not been designated as a route on the Interstate System.”

1991—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–240, § 1012(a), amended subsec. (a) generally, substituting present provisions for provisions authorizing Federal participation in construction or acquisition of toll bridges, tunnels and approaches, provided that facility was publicly owned and operated by State or public authority, and State or authority agreed that all tolls, less those used to offset cost of operation and maintenance, were to be applied to repayment of State or authority for cost of construction or acquisition, that no tolls were to be charged after such repayment, and that facility was to be free of charge thereafter, except in case of bridge connecting United States with foreign country.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–240, § 1012(c)(1), (2), redesignatedsubsec. (f) as (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which authorized Secretary to approve toll roads, bridges and tunnels as part of Interstate System, authorized expenditure of Federal-aid highway funds on toll roads after they became toll-free, and required agreements between Secretary and State highway departments on construction of Interstate projects to forbid construction of toll roads, but not toll bridges and tunnels, on interstate highway route without official concurrence of Secretary, after June 30, 1968.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–240, § 1012(c), redesignatedsubsec. (g) as (c), inserted “and ferry terminal facilities” after “boats” in introductory provisions, added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: “Such ferry shall be publicly owned and operated.”, in par. (4), inserted “or other public entity” after “State” and “, debt service, negotiated management fees, and, in the case of a privately operated toll ferry, for a reasonable rate of return” before period at end, and struck out former subsec. (c) which made available funds authorized for expenditure on Federal-aid highway systems for projects approaching toll roads, bridges or tunnels up to point where project had use irrespective of use for toll road, bridge or tunnel.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–240, § 1012(c)(1), (2), redesignatedsubsec. (j) as (d) and struck out former subsec. (d) which made available funds authorized for expenditure on Interstate System for Interstate System projects approaching toll road and having no other use, if agreement was reached that section of toll road would become free to public upon collection of tolls sufficient to liquidate cost of road and outstanding bonds and cost of maintenance, operation and debt service during period of toll collection, and that there was a reasonably satisfactory alternative free route available to bypass toll section.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 102–240, § 1012(c)(1), struck out subsec. (e) which authorized Secretary to permit Federal participation in reconstruction and improvement of two-lane toll road designated as part of the Interstate System before June 30, 1973, as necessary to bring such road to standards of Interstate System, provided that toll road authority agreed that no new indebtedness to be liquidated by tolls was to be incurred, that all tolls be used for operation and maintenance and to repay outstanding bonds, and that, upon liquidation of such bonds, the road was to become free to public.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 102–240, § 1012(c)(1), struck out subsec. (h) which provided that, in case of interstate toll bridge on Federal-aid primary system, except Interstate System, owned by State or political subdivision, that became toll-free by Jan. 1, 1975, because of purchase or construction by State before Jan. 1, 1975, funds would be made available under section
104(b)(1) and (3) of this title to pay Federal share of lesser of value of bridge (after deducting portion of value already attributable to Federal funds) or amount by which principal amount of outstanding unpaid bonds issued for construction or acquisition of bridge exceeded amount accumulated for their amortization, on date bridge became free to public.

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 102–240, § 1012(c)(1), struck out subsec. (i) which authorized Secretary to permit Federal participation, through funds for Federal-aid highway system, other than Interstate System, in engineering and fiscal assessments, traffic analyses, network studies, etc., to determine whether privately owned toll bridges should be acquired by a State or subdivision.

Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 102–240, § 1012(c)(1), struck out subsec. (k) which required operators of toll roads, tunnels, ferries and bridges on Federal-aid highway system to biennially certify to Governor of State that facilities were adequately maintained and that operator had ability to fund such facilities that were not adequately maintained without using Federal-aid highway funds, and which required Governor of each State to report biennially to Secretary on facilities required to so certify.

Pub. L. 100–202, § 101(l) [title III, § 347(d)(2)(B)–(D)], as amended by Pub. L. 100–457, § 335, substituted “States of Pennsylvania and West Virginia” for “State of Pennsylvania” in two places and inserted “States of Georgia and West Virginia,” and “The toll facility in Orange County, California, may be located in more than 1 highway corridor to relieve congestion on existing interstate routes in such County.”

1976—Subsec. (g)(5). Pub. L. 94–280authorized ferry operations within the islands which comprise the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and excepted ferry operations between the islands which comprise the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from the prohibition of ferry operations in foreign or international waters.

1975—Subsec. (g)(5). Pub. L. 93–643substituted “operations between the islands which comprise the State of Hawaii and operations between any two points in Alaska and between Alaska and Washington, including stops at appropriate points in the Dominion of Canada” for “operations between the islands which comprise the State of Hawaii and operations between the States of Alaska and Washington, or between any two points within the State of Alaska”.

1973—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93–87, § 118(a), inserted third sentence providing that when any toll road which the Secretary has approved as a part of the Interstate System is made a toll-free facility, Federal-aid highway funds apportioned under section
104(b)(5) of this title may be expended for the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of that road to meet the standards adopted for the improvement of projects located on the Interstate System.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 93–87, § 118(b), struck from first sentence “on the date of enactment of this subsection” before “as he may find necessary” and substituted in third sentence “1973” for “1968”.

Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 93–87, § 139, redesignated the second subsec. (f) as (g) and in par. (5) substituted “may be operated” for “shall be operated”, inserted “(including the islands which comprise the State of Hawaii)” after “within the State”, and excepted operations between the islands which comprise the State of Hawaii and operations between the States of Alaska and Washington, or between any two points within the State of Alaska from the prohibition against ferry operations in foreign or international waters.

1972—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 92–434substituted “or” for “and” making text read “maintained or operated”, and required domestic and foreign tolls for international bridges, and that the tolls be limited to amount necessary for maintenance, repair, and operation thereof.

1968—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 90–495required that, after June 30, 1968, as a condition for the addition of toll highway facilities on the Interstate System, the approval of the Secretary is required, with an affirmative finding that the construction of the road as a toll facility rather than a toll-free facility is in the public interest, but with such limitation on the construction of toll facilities not to extend to toll bridges and tunnels.

Amendment by Pub. L. 102–240effective Dec. 18, 1991, and applicable to funds authorized to be appropriated or made available after Sept. 30, 1991, and, with certain exceptions, not applicable to funds appropriated or made available on or before Sept. 30, 1991, see section 1100 ofPub. L. 102–240, set out as a note under section
104 of this title.

Pub. L. 112–141, div. A, title I, § 1512(b),July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 572, provided that: “Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act [see section 3(a), (b) ofPub. L. 112–141, set out as Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment notes under section
101 of this title], all toll facilities on the Federal-aid highways shall implement technologies or business practices that provide for the interoperability of electronic toll collection programs.”

“(i) a facility in existence on the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 10, 2005] that collects tolls;

“(ii) a facility in existence on the date of enactment of this Act that serves high occupancy vehicles;

“(iii) a facility modified or constructed after the date of enactment of this Act to create additional tolled lane capacity (including a facility constructed by a private entity or using private funds); and

“(iv) in the case of a new lane added to a previously non-tolled facility, only the new lane.

“(B) Nonattainment area.—The term ‘nonattainment area’ has the meaning given that term in section 171 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7501).

“(2) Demonstration program.—Notwithstanding sections
129 and
301 of title
23, United States Code, the Secretary [of Transportation] shall carry out 15 demonstration projects during the period of fiscal years 2005 through 2009 to permit States, public authorities, or a [sic] public or private entities designated by States, to collect a toll from motor vehicles at an eligible toll facility for any highway, bridge, or tunnel, including facilities on the Interstate System—

“(A) to manage high levels of congestion;

“(B) to reduce emissions in a nonattainment area or maintenance area; or

“(C) to finance the expansion of a highway, for the purpose of reducing traffic congestion, by constructing one or more additional lanes (including bridge, tunnel, support, and other structures necessary for that construction) on the Interstate System.

“(3) Limitation on use of revenues.—

“(A) Use.—

“(i) In general.—Toll revenues received under paragraph (2) shall be used by a State, public authority, or private entity designated by a State, for—

“(I) debt service;

“(II) a reasonable return on investment of any private financing;

“(III) the costs necessary for proper operation and maintenance of any facilities under paragraph (2) (including reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation); or

“(IV) if the State, public authority, or private entity annually certifies that the tolled facility is being adequately operated and maintained, any other purpose relating to a highway or transit project carried out under title 23 or 49, United States Code.

“(B) Requirements.—

“(i) Variable price requirement.—A facility that charges tolls under this subsection may establish a toll that varies in price according to time of day or level of traffic, as appropriate to manage congestion or improve air quality.

“(ii) HOV variable pricing requirement.—The Secretary [of Transportation] shall require, for each high occupancy vehicle facility that charges tolls under this subsection, that the tolls vary in price according to time of day or level of traffic, as appropriate to manage congestion or improve air quality.

“(iii) HOV passenger requirements.—Pursuant to section
166 of title
23, United States Code, a State may permit motor vehicles with fewer than two occupants to operate in high occupancy vehicle lanes as part of a variable toll pricing program established under this subsection.

“(C) Agreement.—

“(i) In general.—Before the Secretary may permit a facility to charge tolls under this subsection, the Secretary and the applicable State, public authority, or private entity designated by a State shall enter into an agreement for each facility incorporating the conditions described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).

“(ii) Termination.—An agreement under clause (i) shall terminate with respect to a facility upon the decision of the State, public authority, or private entity designated by a State to discontinue the variable tolling program under this subsection for the facility.

“(iii) Debt.—If there is any debt outstanding on a facility at the time at which the decision is made to discontinue the program under this subsection with respect to the facility, the facility may continue to charge tolls in accordance with the terms of the agreement until such time as the debt is retired.

“(D) Limitation on federal share.—The Federal share of the cost of a project on a facility tolled under this subsection, including a project to install the toll collection facility shall be a percentage, not to exceed 80 percent, determined by the applicable State.

“(4) Eligibility.—To be eligible to participate in the program under this subsection, a State, public authority, or private entity designated by a State shall provide to the Secretary [of Transportation]—

“(A) a description of the congestion or air quality problems sought to be addressed under the program;

“(B) a description of—

“(i) the goals sought to be achieved under the program; and

“(ii) the performance measures that would be used to gauge the success made toward reaching those goals; and

“(C) such other information as the Secretary may require.

“(5) Automation.—Fees collected from motorists using an express lane shall be collected only through the use of noncash electronic technology that optimizes the free flow of traffic on the tolled facility.

“(6) Interoperability.—

“(A) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 10, 2005], the Secretary [of Transportation] shall promulgate a final rule specifying requirements, standards, or performance specifications for automated toll collection systems implemented under this section [enacting provisions set out as a note under this section and amending provisions set out as a note under section
149 of this title].

“(B) Development.—In developing that rule, which shall be designed to maximize the interoperability of electronic collection systems, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable—

“(ii) take into account the use of noncash electronic technology currently deployed within an appropriate geographical area of travel and the noncash electronic technology likely to be in use within the next 5 years; and

“(iii) seek to minimize additional costs and maximize convenience to users of toll facility and to the toll facility owner or operator.

“(7) Reporting.—

“(A) In general.—The Secretary [of Transportation], in cooperation with State and local agencies and other program participants and with opportunity for public comment, shall—

“(ii) establish a program for regular monitoring and reporting on the achievement of performance goals, including—

“(I) effects on travel, traffic, and air quality;

“(II) distribution of benefits and burdens;

“(III) use of alternative transportation modes; and

“(IV) use of revenues to meet transportation or impact mitigation needs.

“(B) Reports to congress.—The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives—

“(i) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 10, 2005], and annually thereafter, a report that describes in detail the uses of funds under this subsection in accordance with paragraph (8)(D) [no par. (8) has been enacted]; and

“(ii) not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 3 years thereafter, a report that describes any success of the program under this subsection in meeting congestion reduction and other performance goals established for express lane programs.”

“(1) Establishment.—The Secretary [of Transportation] shall establish and implement an Interstate System construction toll pilot program under which the Secretary, notwithstanding sections
129 and
301 of title
23, United States Code, may permit a State or an interstate compact of States to collect tolls on a highway, bridge, or tunnel on the Interstate System for the purpose of constructing Interstate highways.

“(2) Limitation on number of facilities.—The Secretary [of Transportation] may permit the collection of tolls under this section on three facilities on the Interstate System.

“(3) Eligibility.—To be eligible to participate in the pilot program, a State shall submit to the Secretary [of Transportation] an application that contains, at a minimum, the following:

“(A) An identification of the facility on the Interstate System proposed to be a toll facility.

“(B) In the case of a facility that affects a metropolitan area, an assurance that the metropolitan planning organization designated under section
134 or
135 for the area has been consulted concerning the placement and amount of tolls on the facility.

“(C) An analysis demonstrating that financing the construction of the facility with the collection of tolls under the pilot program is the most efficient and economical way to advance the project.

“(D) A facility management plan that includes—

“(i) a plan for implementing the imposition of tolls on the facility;

“(ii) a schedule and finance plan for the construction of the facility using toll revenues;

“(iii) a description of the public transportation agency that will be responsible for implementation and administration of the pilot program;

“(iv) a description of whether consideration will be given to privatizing the maintenance and operational aspects of the facility, while retaining legal and administrative control of the portion of the Interstate route; and

“(v) such other information as the Secretary may require.

“(4) Selection criteria.—The Secretary [of Transportation] may approve the application of a State under paragraph (3) only if the Secretary determines that—

“(A) the State’s analysis under paragraph (3)(C) is reasonable;

“(B) the State plan for implementing tolls on the facility takes into account the interests of local, regional, and interstate travelers;

“(C) the State plan for construction of the facility using toll revenues is reasonable;

“(D) the State will develop, manage, and maintain a system that will automatically collect the tolls; and

“(E) the State has given preference to the use of a public toll agency with demonstrated capability to build, operate, and maintain a toll expressway system meeting criteria for the Interstate System.

“(5) Prohibition on noncompete agreements.—Before the Secretary [of Transportation] may permit a State to participate in the pilot program, the State must enter into an agreement with the Secretary that provides that the State will not enter into an agreement with a private person under which the State is prevented from improving or expanding the capacity of public roads adjacent to the toll facility to address conditions resulting from traffic diverted to such roads from the toll facility, including—

“(A) excessive congestion;

“(B) pavement wear; and

“(C) an increased incidence of traffic accidents, injuries, or fatalities.

“(6) Limitations on use of revenues; audits.—Before the Secretary [of Transportation] may permit a State to participate in the pilot program, the State must enter into an agreement with the Secretary that provides that—

“(A) all toll revenues received from operation of the toll facility will be used only for—

“(i) debt service;

“(ii) reasonable return on investment of any private person financing the project; and

“(iii) any costs necessary for the improvement of and the proper operation and maintenance of the toll facility, including reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation of the toll facility; and

“(B) regular audits will be conducted to ensure compliance with subparagraph (A) and the results of such audits will be transmitted to the Secretary.

“(7) Limitation on use of interstate maintenance funds.—During the term of the pilot program, funds apportioned for Interstate maintenance under [former] section
104(b)(4) of title
23, United States Code, may not be used on a facility for which tolls are being collected under the program.

“(8) Program term.—The Secretary [of Transportation] may approve an application of a State for permission to collect a toll under this section only if the application is received by the Secretary before the last day of the 10-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 10, 2005].

“(9) Interstate system defined.—In this section, the term ‘Interstate System’ has the meaning such term has under section
101 of title
23, United States Code.”

“(1) Establishment.—The Secretary [of Transportation], acting through the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, shall establish and maintain a national ferry database.

“(2) Contents.—The database shall contain current information regarding ferry systems, including information regarding routes, vessels, passengers and vehicles carried, funding sources, including any Federal, State, and local government funding sources, and such other information as the Secretary considers useful.

“(A) compile the database not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 10, 2005] and update the database every 2 years thereafter;

“(B) ensure that the database is easily accessible to the public;

“(C) ensure that the database is consistent with the national transit database maintained by the Federal Transit Administration; and

“(D) make available, from the amounts made available for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics by section 5101 of this Act [119 Stat. 1779], not more than $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2014 to establish and maintain the database.”

“(1) In general.—The Secretary shall conduct a study of ferry transportation in the United States and its possessions—

“(A) to identify existing ferry operations, including—

“(i) the locations and routes served; and

“(ii) the source and amount, if any, of funds derived from Federal, State, or local government sources supporting ferry construction or operations;

“(B) to identify potential domestic ferry routes in the United States and its possessions and to develop information on those routes; and

“(C) to identify the potential for use of high-speed ferry services and alternative-fueled ferry services.

“(2) Report.—The Secretary shall submit a report on the results of the study to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate.”

“(1) Establishment.—The Secretary shall establish and implement an Interstate System reconstruction and rehabilitation pilot program under which the Secretary, notwithstanding sections
129 and
301 of title
23, United States Code, may permit a State to collect tolls on a highway, bridge, or tunnel on the Interstate System for the purpose of reconstructing and rehabilitating Interstate highway corridors that could not otherwise be adequately maintained or functionally improved without the collection of tolls.

“(2) Limitation on number of facilities.—The Secretary may permit the collection of tolls under this subsection on 3 facilities on the Interstate System. Each of such facilities shall be located in a different State.

“(3) Eligibility.—To be eligible to participate in the pilot program, a State shall submit to the Secretary an application that contains, at a minimum, the following:

“(A) An identification of the facility on the Interstate System proposed to be a toll facility, including the age, condition, and intensity of use of the facility.

“(B) In the case of a facility that affects a metropolitan area, an assurance that the metropolitan planning organization established under section
134 of title
23, United States Code, for the area has been consulted concerning the placement and amount of tolls on the facility.

“(C) An analysis demonstrating that the facility could not be maintained or improved to meet current or future needs from the State’s apportionments and allocations made available by this Act [see Tables for classification] (including amendments made by this Act) and from revenues for highways from any other source without toll revenues.

“(D) A facility management plan that includes—

“(i) a plan for implementing the imposition of tolls on the facility;

“(ii) a schedule and finance plan for the reconstruction or rehabilitation of the facility using toll revenues;

“(iii) a description of the public transportation agency that will be responsible for implementation and administration of the pilot program;

“(iv) a description of whether consideration will be given to privatizing the maintenance and operational aspects of the facility, while retaining legal and administrative control of the portion of the Interstate route; and

“(v) such other information as the Secretary may require.

“(4) Selection criteria.—The Secretary may approve the application of a State under paragraph (3) only if the Secretary determines that—

“(A) the State is unable to reconstruct or rehabilitate the proposed toll facility using existing apportionments;

“(B) the facility has a sufficient intensity of use, age, or condition to warrant the collection of tolls;

“(C) the State plan for implementing tolls on the facility takes into account the interests of local, regional, and interstate travelers;

“(D) the State plan for reconstruction or rehabilitation of the facility using toll revenues is reasonable; and

“(E) the State has given preference to the use of a public toll agency with demonstrated capability to build, operate, and maintain a toll expressway system meeting criteria for the Interstate System.

“(5) Limitations on use of revenues; audits.—Before the Secretary may permit a State to participate in the pilot program, the State must enter into an agreement with the Secretary that provides that—

“(A) all toll revenues received from operation of the toll facility will be used only for—

“(i) debt service;

“(ii) reasonable return on investment of any private person financing the project; and

“(iii) any costs necessary for the improvement of and the proper operation and maintenance of the toll facility, including reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation of the toll facility; and

“(B) regular audits will be conducted to ensure compliance with subparagraph (A) and the results of such audits will be transmitted to the Secretary.

“(6) Limitation on use of interstate maintenance funds.—During the term of the pilot program, funds apportioned for Interstate maintenance under [former] section
104(b)(4) of title
23, United States Code, may not be used on a facility for which tolls are being collected under the program.

“(7) Program term.—The Secretary shall conduct the pilot program under this subsection for a term to be determined by the Secretary, but not less than 10 years.

“(8) Interstate system defined.—In this subsection, the term ‘Interstate System’ has the meaning such term has under section
101 of title
23, United States Code.”

Continuation of Existing Agreements

Pub. L. 102–240, title I, § 1012(d),Dec. 18, 1991, 105 Stat. 1939, provided that: “Unless modified under section 129(a)(6) of such title [this title], as amended by subsection (a) of this section, agreements entered into under section 119(e) or 129 of such title before the effective date of this title [Dec. 18, 1991] and in effect on the day before such effective date shall continue in effect on and after such effective date in accordance with the provisions of such agreement and such section
119(e) or
129.”

Study To Determine Extent of Bonded Indebtedness of States for Construction of Toll Roads Incorporated Into Interstate System

Pub. L. 95–599, title I, § 164,Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2721, as amended by Pub. L. 96–106, § 16,Nov. 19, 1979, 93 Stat. 798, directed Secretary of Transportation to report not later than July 1, 1980, respecting extent of outstanding bonded indebtedness for each State as of Jan. 1, 1979, incurred by each State or public authority prior to June 29, 1956, for road construction or portions incorporated within Interstate System, and methods of allocating bonded indebtedness and removal of toll provisions.

Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike

Pub. L. 91–605, title I, § 131,Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1732, provided that: “The Secretary of Transportation is authorized to amend any agreement heretofore entered into under the provisions of section
129(d) of title
23, United States Code, in order to permit the continuation of tolls on the existing Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike to finance the construction within the existing termini of such turnpike of two lanes thereon in addition to the lanes in existence on the date of enactment of this section [Dec. 31, 1970] necessary to meet traffic and highway safety requirements. Any amended agreement entered into for such purposes shall provide assurances that the existing turnpike (including the additional lanes) shall become free to the public upon the collection of tolls sufficient to liquidate all construction costs, and the costs of maintenance, operation, and debt service during the period of toll collections to liquidate such construction costs, but in no event shall tolls be collected after date of maturity of those bonds outstanding on the date of enactment of this section [Dec. 31, 1970] issued for construction of such turnpike having the latest maturity date.”

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